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Seventeen-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora could become the youngest Mexican player to play in a World Cup.
He was among the initial 12 players chosen by coach Javier Aguirre in Mexico’s World Cup squad on Tuesday, all of them from the local Liga MX. Next Monday they will start training together.
Aguirre also called eight others to complete training until the arrival of the European players at the end of May.
Mora just returned to play for Tijuana after a groin injury sidelined him for two months. Mexico’s youngest player in the World Cup is Manuel “Chaquetas” Rosas, who was 18 years and 88 days old when he played in the inaugural 1930 World Cup.
“I had an injury that kept me out for most of the (Liga MX) but I’m happy to be back,” Mora said Saturday. “The recovery was a little long but thank God I’m fine now, I feel very good physically and ready for what’s coming. I’m 100% in all aspects.”
Seven 17-year-old players, including Pelé, have played in a World Cup; the youngest of them, Norman Whiteside, from Northern Ireland, in 1982 in Spain.
Depending on when Mora makes his World Cup debut (Mexico opens against South Africa on June 11), he would become the sixth or seventh youngest in history.
The teenager has made a splash in Liga MX and was a starter for the Mexico team that won the Gold Cup in 2025. But his injury has kept him out of Mexico’s last six games.
“Morita” could return to Mexico on May 22 in a World Cup warm-up match against Ghana in Puebla, Mexico.
Mora already owns several younger albums. In August 2024 he was the youngest to start and score in the Mexican first division at the age of 15. In January 2025 he was the youngest to debut for Mexico at 16 years old.
Mexico:
Goalkeepers: Raúl Rangel (Chivas), Carlos Acevedo (Santos).
Defenders: Israel Reyes (America), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Luis Romo (Chivas)
Midfielders: Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas)
Forwards: Alexis Vega (Toluca), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Armando González (Chivas).
Information from The Associated Press.
